§ 60. Major NATHANasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer the date of the recommendation made by the Tariff Advisory Committee to the Treasury, and the date of the Order made by the 1236 Treasury, with regard to adding foreign postage stamps to the free list under the the Import Duties Act; and when the same will be submitted to the House of Commons for approval?
§ The FINANCIAL SECRETARY to the TREASURY (Major Elliot)No recommendation on the subject of imported foreign postage stamps has been received from the Import Duties Advisory Committee, and the last part of the question does not therefore arise. I may say, however, that in view of the considerable doubt as to the liability of postage stamps to duty under the Import Duties Act, my right hon. Friend has decided that no charge to general ad valorem duty should be made.
§ Major NATHANCan the right hon. and gallant Gentleman say how it is that, in view of the provisions of the Import Duties Act, any goods are allowed into this country except subject to the terms of that Act?
§ Major ELLIOTIt was a matter of grave doubt whether used postage stamps were in fact goods.
§ 65. Mr. HACKINGasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether his attention has been called to the difficulties of the Board of Customs in connection with six animals which recently arrived at Folkestone; and whether, in order to allay public anxiety, he will state whether for the purposes of the Import Duties Act, 1932, a monkey is a quadruped or a quadrumanous mammal?
§ Major ELLIOTI am not aware that the Board of Customs and Excise has experienced any difficulties in the matter. I am informed that they decided some time ago that live monkeys were not liable to duty.
§ Mr. HACKINGIs my right hon. and gallant Friend aware that his answer will cause great disappointment in the minds of those directly concerned?